Fourth Committee, 17th plenary meeting - General Assembly, 81st session

Good afternoon, colleagues. The 70th meeting of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee is called to order. The committee will continue today's general debate on agenda item 51, entitled “Questions related to information.” Delegations, a kindly reminder of the time limit of 10 minutes for national statements and 50 minutes when speaking on behalf of a group. To assist speakers in managing their time, the red light on the speaker’s microphone will begin to blink one minute to the end of the allotted time. After that minute, the speaker’s microphone will be automatically cut off. For maximizing using of our time, I appeal to all speakers to deliver shorter version of their statement and to submit the full text for posting in UN journal. Now, again, I give the floor to Latvia on behalf of the Baltic States.

You have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Excellencies, distinguished delegates, I deliver this statement on behalf of the Baltic States: Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. We align ourselves with the statement delivered by the European Union. I thank the Department of Global Communications and Secretary General for their continued efforts to provide accurate, fact-based, and accessible information about the work of the United Nations, promote understanding of multilateralism, and communicate objectives of the UN reform, including the UN80 initiative. The global information environment is undergoing a profound transformation. Information has become a strategic asset. Its deliberate manipulation is increasingly used to exert influence, undermine public trust, and interfere in democratic processes. Information integrity is essential for democratic resilience, human rights, international peace and security, as well as our preparedness and capacity to respond to information manipulation. We would like to highlight three priorities. First, The Baltic states remain particularly concerned about foreign information manipulation and interference. Russia's ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine demonstrates how information manipulation is used alongside conventional military operations. The Kremlin systematically spreads disinformation and distorted historical narratives to justify its illegal war against Ukraine, equate the aggressor with the victim, deny documented atrocities, and shift responsibility for the conflict. Since spring, Russia has escalated a malicious and dangerous disinformation campaign targeting the Baltic states. Russia falsely claimed that our countries had allowed their airspace to be used for drone attacks against targets in Russia. Russia used these lies to issue direct threats against Latvia. This is a prime example of escalation in information space. Russia is also trying to erase facts and rewrite history, even destroy cultural heritage, including monuments, books, churches, and libraries, to undermine collective memory and attack identity. Since the beginning of the full-scale aggression, UNESCO has verified damage to 567 cultural sites, including 165 religious sites, 43 museums, and 24 libraries in Ukraine. Accurate, timely, and fact-based communication, especially in conflict contexts, is therefore Very essential. We must call violations of international law, including international humanitarian law, what they are and counter attempts to distort responsibility for acts of aggression. It is vital that the UN system and international monitors mandated with fact-finding and verification have the full support of international community. Mr. Chair, the Baltic States welcome the continued implementation of the UN Global Principles for Information Integrity and recognize the importance of international cooperation under the Global Digital Compact and through other relevant multilateral initiatives. In 2021, Latvia was among the co-initiators of the General Assembly resolution establishing Global Media and Information Literacy Week. We continue regard media and information literacy as a vital long-term investment, particularly for children and young people. We support the Department of Global Communications in its continued work with member states, independent media, civil society, academia, and technology companies to improve understanding of information manipulation and strengthen societal resilience. The Secretary General's report highlights the value of capacity building, including training for UN personnel and journalism students. Resilience requires a whole of society approach. It must be built before a crisis, not merely in response to one. Second, information integrity cannot be sustained without free, independent, and pluralistic media. On the World Press Freedom Day earlier this year, the UN Group of Friends for the Protection of Journalists, which Lithuania has proudly co-chaired for a decade, called for stronger protection of journalists worldwide, including in conflict situations. The Baltic states have provided refuge to many journalists fleeing repression, enabling them to continue their work in safety. Independent journalism also faces growing economic and technological pressures. The Secretary General's report rightly draws attention to the relationship between advertising, AI, and the information environment. We welcome the Department's engagement with the advertising sector to promote greater transparency and accountability across the information ecosystem. Technology companies, advertisers, and other relevant actors should take greater responsibility for the impact of their services and businesses. At the same time, efforts to combat disinformation must never become a pretext for censorship or restrictions of legitimate expression. All measures to strengthen information integrity must comply with international human rights law, including the rights to freedom of expression and the right to seek, receive, and impart information. Third, AI and other emerging technologies are transforming how information is produced and disseminated. These developments require look beyond the impact on communications. They are also changing the nature of conflicts and have implications for international peace and security. This includes conflict prevention, the protection of civilians, and the safety of UN personnel. We hope that the inaugural global dialogue on AI governance, co-facilitated by Estonia and El Salvador, and subsequent discussions will contribute to a shared understanding of responsible AI governance and strengthen international cooperation. In this context, On October 23, Latvia and Greece jointly announced the launch of Security Council Information Expert Group on Technology and Peace and Security. Established by ten members of the Security Council, the first meeting will take place this month, during Latvia's presidency of the United Nations Security Council. Mr. Chair, to conclude. No single government, institution, or technology company can address these challenges alone. A whole of society approach and sustained multilateral engagement are essential to safeguarding an open, trustworthy, and inclusive information environment. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Latvia on behalf of Baltic States for her statement. And now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Cuba.

You have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, my delegation aligns itself with the statements made by Uruguay on behalf of G-77 and China, Russia,

on behalf of the Group

of Friends in Defense of the UN Charter, and Spain on behalf of the Group of Friends of Spanish. We're grateful for the presentation of the report contained in document A/81/341. which highlights the activities carried out by the Department of Global Communications and the communication priorities of the United Nations. Likewise, we take note of the report

A/81/21 that contains the main results of the 48th session of the Committee on Information.

The context of a

financial liquidity crisis confronting the

organization, we'd like to underscore the importance of promoting the creation and dissemination of multilingual contents, promotion of multilingualism as an expression of cultural richness and diversity of peoples is essential to ensure the dissemination of contents that are accessible to different publics. Mr. Chairman, the process of making Cuba an ICT society that Cuba has been experiencing for many years is one of the three pillars supported by the government in the promotion of digital transformation. Digital technologies are being incorporated in all areas of society, and at the heart of this are human beings. This is in a process that is evolutionary, complex, and demanding, and requires the collective participation and involvement of all sectors. Also, it's based on the National Social and Economic Development Plan up to 2030, which fosters the development of infrastructure of telecommunications to promote universal access and the productive use of information and communication technologies, and also promote the structural transformation of the economy. Now, of course, using telecommunications, much more can be achieved to link up productively different sectors and continue to promoting socio-economic development and the quality of life of the population. In this context, e-government and e-commerce play a key role. Government Center simplifies and improves the experience of citizens in their relationship with public administration and facilitates access to government services through efficient, transparent, and interconnected digital platforms. The platform sovereignty. which was created in 2025, is the main tool allowing citizens to access digital government. However, progress towards a digital environment, an inclusive one in Cuba, has confronted growing and huge challenges. Telecommunications and ICTs, like other sectors of the Cuban economy, have suffered the impact during over decades of the hostility and economic war waged by the government of the United States against our country. The multidimensional aggression against Cuba, the economic, commercial, and financial blockade, and the energy siege imposed by the government of the United States have caused losses of billions for the country, including for the communications sector. The main consequences can be seen in the limitations of supplies of technology and equipment produced under license or using U.S. components, which implies that we have to purchase them in other markets that are much farther away. Furthermore, there's constant harassment of businesses and suppliers that maintain commercial relations or have expressed an interest of doing business with Cuban entities. There's an attempt to hinder the modernization of networks or access to software. Furthermore, Cuban representatives have trouble participating in meetings and virtual events organized by the UN system, given that Cuba has restricted access to various digital platforms such as Zoom. We reject the imposition of these restrictions that affect the participation of Cuba in multilateral spaces on equal sovereign conditions. We reiterate our denunciation of the media war against Cuba and of the use of digital social platforms through which the United States has sought to sell the idea that the blockade does not exist. This is hostile rhetoric, which does not reflect the reality of the country, but rather constructs and manipulates an image of the island to attack it and isolate it. We also condemn the permanent radio and television aggression against Cuba, as well as the improper use of cyberspace by the government of the United States against our country for the purposes of destabilization and political subversion, contravening the principles and purposes of the UN Charter and the provisions of the International Telecommunications Union. These radio and television broadcasts violate international law and the Cuban constitutional order. They disseminate damaging programs for Cuban sovereignty with regard to national jurisdiction to regulate flows of information and the use of mass media. Furthermore, they include programs specifically designed to promote political destabilization. We denounce these radio and television broadcasts that promote contents that are damaging for Cuba and undermine national jurisdiction to regulate flows of information and the use of the mass media. Just in the month of March of this year, 12 stations broadcast against Cuba using a total of 25 frequencies, including 17 including 7,383 hours of broadcasting that month. Likewise, we condemn the campaign of discrediting that is financed by federal funds of the United States aimed at provoking a social uprising in Cuba. Mr. Chairman, in an international context marked by an escalation of a media war against the global south, growth of generative artificial intelligence, crisis of confidence in the information ecosystems and the use of advanced digital technologies in military operations and subversion. In this context, Cuba reiterates its determination to contribute to efforts to establish a new global order of information and communication as more just, inclusive, and equitable. We reiterate the urgency of bridging the digital gap that affects the countries of the South and building an international system where technological development and digital development is used for the benefit of humankind. Cuba adopted in 2024 its strategy for the development and use of artificial intelligence with applications in healthcare, biotechnology, and education. We will continue promoting creativity, preparation, and the spirit of cooperation for the development of artificial intelligence that is ethical and inclusive, destined for peaceful purposes. New technologies could not be used to promote aggressive or hateful agendas, or to perpetuate ignorance, inequality, poverty, or social exclusion. Our action in this area should be guided by the use of these technologies that are fully compatible with international law and with the principles and purposes of the UN Charter, on the basis of strict respect for the sovereignty of states, noninterference in their internal affairs, and the promotion of peaceful coexistence. Cuba will continue to champion the use of technologies for human development, knowledge, economic development, promotion of the well-being of peoples, and the rights to live in peace. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Cuba for his statement. And now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Argentina.

You have the floor.

Thank you, Jim. First of all, the Republic of Argentina would like to express gratitude for the report of the Committee on Information, as well as the report of the Secretary-General on questions related to information. Argentina reaffirms the importance that it attaches to communication and access to information as a fundamental instrument to make the work of the United Nations more accessible to our societies. Bearing this in mind, we consider that The communication activities of the Organization must contribute to fulfilling the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter, in particular maintaining international peace and security, promoting dialogue, cooperation, and understanding. Mr. Chairman, for the Republic of Argentina, multilingualism is an essential principle that should be mainstreamed in all the activities of the United Nations. The full and equitable use of the six official languages not only promotes greater participation of Member States, but also contributes to promoting cultural diversity, understanding, and tolerance among nations. In this framework, our country reaffirms its commitment to promoting the Spanish language and also recalls that it is a member of the took part in the establishment of the Group of Friends of Spanish in 2013. Argentina considers it fundamental to continue making progress towards a true multilingual culture within the global Department of Communications, so that its publications, contents and campaigns properly reflect the linguistic and cultural particularities of each language. Along these lines, we would like to highlight the importance of ensuring timely availability of reports, documents and contents in all official languages. We are aware that current budgetary restrictions in fronting the Organization. However, we think that it is essential to preserve equal treatment of official languages, taking advantage of the opportunities offered by new technologies without compromising qualities and accuracy of translation. Multilingualism must lead to an effective daily practice that allows all Member States to participate on an equal footing in the work of the Organization. Mr. Chairman, the Republic of Argentina also considers it important that the information disseminated by the United Nations respects criteria of objectivity, impartiality, accuracy, balance, reflecting faithfully the activities of the Organization and the positions expressed by its Member States. With this in mind, we believe it is important to pay particular attention to the language used in institutional communiques, seeking to avoid expressions that, because of their different interpretation, could lead to ambiguous or inaccurate interpretations. The use of clear, rigorous, and consistent terminology in the instruments, resolutions, and relevant mandates of the United Nations contributes to preserve the institutional neutrality of the Organization and strengthen trust in the information that it disseminates. Bearing this in mind, we believe it is essential that the various communication platforms, including the news services and digital media of the Organization, continue to offer broad, balanced, and representative coverage of the debates and activities of the United Nations, respecting the diversity of the perspectives of its Member States. We also value the work of UN News in Spanish and the other communication platforms in our language to make it possible for our broad Spanish-speaking audience to get more information about the activities of the Organization. Lastly, Argentina would like to express its gratitude to all those working in the Department of Global Communications for their dedication and professionalism, in particular television teams, those in social networks, web services, news, and all the other services. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Argentina for his statement. And now I give the floor to the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Moldova.

Ambassador, you have the floor.

Mr. Chair, the Republic of Moldova aligns itself with the statement delivered by the European Union and wishes to add the following remarks in its national capacity. We welcome the Secretary-General's report on questions related to information and commend the Department of Global Communication for its work in an increasingly challenging information environment. The report demonstrates how closely reliable information is connected to the Organization's ability to fulfill its mandate. Whether responding to conflict, explaining United Nations reform, or mobilizing climate action, effective communication helps people understand decisions, exercise their rights, and participate in shaping their future. For the Republic of Moldova, this connection is immediate. And independent and incredible information environment is essential to our democratic resilience and our national security. Mr. Chair, Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine demonstrates how information manipulation can prepare, accompany, and sustain military aggression. False narratives seek to justify violations of sovereignty, obscure responsibility, and weaken solidarity with those under attack. My country has also faced sustained attempt to undermine public trust and interfere with democratic choice. These operations exploit economic hardship, social anxieties, and the fear of war. They target confidence in public institution, independent journalism, and democratic participation itself. During recent electoral processes, coordinated campaign combined fabricated content, deceptive accounts, illicit financing, and foreign influence networks. Artificial intelligence has made convincing forgeries easier to produce and harder to identify. The Republic of Moldova response has produced concrete results in exposing these operations. Independent journalists and investigative groups have uncovered covert influence networks and coordinated manipulations campaign. Public institutions have exposed illicit financing, while fact checkers have documented and challenged deceptive narratives. Bringing these activities into public view has helped citizens recognize attempts to manipulate their choices. These efforts have strengthened our capacity to identify information threats and respond to them. They have also reinforced a fundamental lesson: resilience requires cooperation across society, alongside institutions that earn trust through transparency and accountability. My country's progress is reflected in international assessment. In the 2026 World Press Freedom index published by Reporters Without Borders, our country ranks 31st out of 180 countries, improving by four places compared with 2025. This is an encouraging result in a difficult security environment. It also reminds us of the responsibility to consolidate progress by protecting journalists, strengthening editorial independence, and improving media sustainability. Countering disinformation must never become a pretext for suppressing legitimate criticism or restricting freedom of expression. Independent scrutiny strengthens democratic institutions and their ability to serve citizens. Mr. Chair, drawing on this experience, allow me to highlight five priorities for safeguarding media freedom and strengthening our collective resilience to disinformation. First, independent journalism must be supported as an essential component of democratic resilience. In the Republic of Moldova, investigative reporting has helped citizens distinguish evidence from manipulation and hold those who exercise power accountable. Yet, This public service depends on newsrooms that can sustain themselves. Investigations require time, skilled staff, secure technology, and legal support. Journalists facing intimidation, harassment, or cyber attacks need effective protection. Local and regional media deserve particular attention. They understand their communities and reach audiences that national campaigns may overlook. In Moldova, credible reporting in Romanian and Russian helps ensure that linguistic diversity is accompanied by access to trustworthy information. We value the contribution of international partners, including the International Fund for Public Interest Media. Predictable support with safeguards for editorial independence enables newsrooms to invest in people. and technology and pursue investigation beyond short funding cycles. Second, accountability in the digital environment must keep pace with technological change. Moldova supports the United Nations global principles for information integrity and their implementation through practical cooperation. The Secretary-General's report highlights the relationship between advertising artificial intelligence and the global information crisis. When deceptive content generates revenue, its producers have an incentive to expand it. Digital platforms and advertising companies should provide meaningful transparency concerning political advertising, sponsorship, and coordinating in authentic behavior. Independent researchers need access to relevant data with appropriate privacy safeguards to understand how manipulation spreads. Artificial intelligence can improve access to knowledge, translation, and accessibility. Its use should be accompanied by human oversight and effective safeguards against impersonation and deception. Third, media and information literacy must become a sustained public investment. Citizens need practical skills to assess sources, recognize manipulation, and make informed choices. These skills should be developed in schools and supported throughout life. My country has placed great emphasis on digital literacy and critical thinking as part of broader efforts to strengthen resilience. Fourth, information integrity should be integrated into the delivery of sustainable development. The Republic of Moldova experience with overlapping energy and refugee Crisis has shown how manipulation can exploit hardship, deepen division, and undermine public responses. A support program can be well designed and adequately funded, yet fail to reach people if they do not understand how to access it or have been persuaded to distrust it. For Moldova, reaching communities on both banks of the Dniester River is particularly important. Accurate and accessible information can help address practical needs, reduce mistrust, and support social cohesion. And fifth, Mr. Chair, the United Nations must retain the capacity to communicate credibly, inclusively, and effectively. We appreciate the Department's work to explain the path for the future and the UN80 initiative. Reform will command greater confidence when member states, staff, and the public understand its objectives, implication, and result. For small delegations, United Nations Communication Service are also practical tools for effective participation. Meeting coverage, press releases, the UN News and UN Web TV help us follow parallel processes, brief our capitals, and maintain an accurate record of intergovernmental work. Efficiency measures. measures should preserve these functions and provide them with adequate resources. Multilingualism is also important. We welcome improvements in accessibility, including captioning and transcripts, and guidance on the responsible use of artificial intelligence. Innovation should strengthen accuracy and accessibility while preserving editorial responsibility. The credibility of United Nations communications rests on factual accuracy, impartiality, and fidelity to the Charter. Mr. Chair, Our objective is to ensure that people can obtain reliable information, question wells in power, and make decisions free from covert. manipulation. Achieving this requires sustainable investment in journalism, education, and accountable institutions, supported by international cooperation grounded in human rights. The Republic of Moldova will continue to contribute to this effort, convinced that informed citizens and open public debate are essential to peaceful, democratic, and resilient societies. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished Permanent Representative of the Republic of Moldova for his statement, and now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of South Africa.

You have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. President. At the outset, South Africa aligns with the statement delivered by Uruguay on behalf of the Group of 77 and China. We would like to raise the following points in our national capacity. Mr. President, the need for accurate, reliable, and verifiable information has never been greater in view of the ever-evolving technological developments, the growing number of conflicts and fractured geopolitics, where mistrust can serve as a barrier to promoting dialogue and the peaceful settlement of disputes. Information integrity is therefore a key requirement in communication. given the speed and pervasiveness of the transmission thereof. Within this context, the South African delegation appreciates the work undertaken by the Department of Global Communications to enhance information integrity, working with partners from academia, research institutions, youth, women, and other civil society organizations. Such efforts by the DGC allows for an awareness of the work of the UN to reach communities in their local environments in multiple languages. Our delegation is especially pleased by the progress made in advancing multilingualism to this end. We therefore commend the use of Kiswahili and other local languages to inform and educate the world about the programs of the United Nations and its significance. Mr. President, in the quest for inclusivity and in a context of advancing technology, we note the UN’s deployment of artificial intelligence earlier this year, which has increasingly become a feature in the information landscape. Nevertheless, emerging technology is complex and fraught with both unprecedented benefits and risks. Given the risks attended to the use of emerging technologies, including AI, my delegation emphasizes the need for maintaining human oversight and control, for policies that mitigate algorithmic bias and deepfake vulnerabilities, and the need to leverage tools that counter misinformation, disinformation, and hate speech that permeates various aspects of life, impacting elections, peacekeeping missions, narratives on climate change, and human rights, among others. Our AI algorithms are only as good as the information and data that they draw from. And combating the insidious aspects of our broader information landscape will go a long way in encountering these biases and the adverse impacts on AI output. Most importantly, leveraging emerging technologies should also aim to bridge the digital divide, as too many in the developing world still lack access to information about the United Nations and its programs, especially in Africa, not withstanding the adoption of the Global Digital Compact in 2024 during the Summit of the Future. Furthermore, we call for the participation of developing countries in global AI governance frameworks to ensure that global AI governance reflects their concerns, ambitions, and specific contexts. Mr. President, the safety of journalists is another priority that should never be compromised, as we rely on them for current, first-person, verifiable, and objective information. We therefore deplore their deliberate targeting and killing in various conflicts around the world, but especially in Gaza, which is the most dangerous place for journalists and humanitarian personnel to operate today. We commend your continued coverage of conflicts, including the most intractable in the African continent. For civilians caught up in armed conflict, the United Nations may be the only source of information, highlighting their plight. We therefore commend the work of the DGCC in this regard. and call for stricter adherence to principles of accuracy, accountability, independence, and impartiality in reporting on the UN's work. Finally, Mr. President, South Africa expresses its appreciation to the DGC for its continued support for the Nelson Mandela International Day, held earlier this year on 18th July. The day continues to resonate deeply with Member States in view of the values that Nelson Mandela espoused, in particular, the respect for and promotion of human rights, values that are sorely needed in the current global context of fragmented geopolitics, increasing politics, and the continued undermining of multilateralism. Within this context, we commend the efforts extended by the DGC in profiling the value of multilateralism. South Africa has always articulated its firm commitment to a rules-based system based on international law with the UN at its center. Adherence to the principles of the UN Charter. We look forward to ongoing work on countering false narratives against climate change as we transition to clean energy. The promotion of sustainable development goals as we intensify our efforts to achieve them, as many countries still lag behind. We need to galvanize momentum as we look towards 2030 and what comes next beyond 2030. In conclusion, We call for adequate resources for the UN Information Centres, which are the face of the United Nations in our communities, to promote not only UN programmes, but also intercultural understanding and tolerance for diversity. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of South Africa for her statement. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Chile.

You have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. Chile aligns itself with the statement made by Spain on behalf of Group of Friends of Spanish and Uruguay representing G77 and China. Mr. Chairman, there is no doubt that the international context in which the Department of Global Communications of the UN was established This differs substantially from the reality that we see today. The growing polarization, proliferation of disinformation, and questions about multilateral institutions are one of the main challenges for United Nations communications. Its role is to transmit effectively and accessibly information about the work and concrete contribution that this organization makes in the lives of people. Today, when information circulates at unprecedented speed and when trust in institutions is facing significant challenges, it's not enough to expand the reach of messages. Rather, we need to ensure their understanding and promote the fostering of trust among various audiences. observed with concern the challenges created by the proliferation of disinformation and the use of new technologies to generate and disseminate manipulative contents. The growing impact of criminal activity due to its implications for digital security and trust in the information environment is also of concern to our country. This is why in 2025, Chile signed on to the UN Convention Against Cybercrime. aimed at establishing a common framework to prevent, investigate, and punish cybercrime, while strengthening international cooperation in this area, protecting human rights, and ensuring the protection of data. In this framework, my country considers it essential to respect the sovereignty of states, the protection of human rights, and the balance between security and fundamental freedoms, such as the freedom of expression and privacy. Likewise, we believe it fundamental to continue strengthening multilingualism and promoting balanced use of the six official languages of the United Nations in its decisions, documents, and reports. Linguistic diversity reflects the plurality of member states and is an essential instrument to ensure that the messages of this organization are accessible and reach in an effective way people of all regions, including Spanish-speaking communities. An inclusive communication must ensure access to information that is clear, rigorous, and trustworthy in the various languages, especially in situations of crisis, when the circulation of inaccurate information or lacking scientific rigor could weaken trust in institutions. In the face of this reality, it is essential to strengthen information integrity, promote access to trustworthy information, and capacity building for a citizenry that is better informed. Thank you very much.

I thank the distinguished representative of Chile for her statement. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of El Salvador.

You have the floor.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. El Salvador subscribes to the statement made by G-77 and China and the Group of Friends of Spanish. We are grateful to the Under-Secretary-General for Global Communication for her presentation and are grateful to the work of the Department, especially in the face of current financial and operational challenges. Mr. Chairman, in an international context marked by deep divisions, polarization, and growing distrust in institutions, communication is a fundamental instrument to strengthen multilateralism. Today more than ever, the United Nations must be capable of explaining not only what it does, but also why its work is important and how it contributes to responding to global challenges. This is why we support the efforts of the Department to promote the principles and purposes of the Charter, render visible the results of international cooperation, and strengthen public understanding of the value of multilateralism. Mr. Chairman, We'd like to underscore the importance of strengthening the integrity of information as a strategic priority for the United Nations. The dissemination of inaccurate information and disinformation, hate speech, and the use of emerging technologies to manipulate contents are major challenges for public trust, dialogue, and international cooperation. These phenomena can also deepen social divisions, exacerbate tensions, and weaken efforts to prevent conflicts and ensure peace building. We're also particularly concerned about the persistence of discriminatory narratives against Latin women and girls, including those which are amplified using digital platforms and new technologies. The communication of the United Nations must actively contribute to counter discrimination and promote full, inclusive, and equitable representation of women, strengthening their participation and leadership in all spheres of society. In this context, we welcome the efforts of the Department to move towards an information environment that promotes access to trustworthy, accurate, and evidence-based information with full respect for freedom of expression and other fundamental human rights. Mr. Chairman, we also consider it a priority to expand and diversify the audiences that the United Nations reaches. We cannot measure the success of our communication solely by the number of publications or digital hits. We must also ask ourselves: who are we reaching? Who are we leaving behind, and how can we connect with those who have lost trust in the organization or are questioning its relevance? This requires strategies that are adapted to local realities and to the needs of communities. In this effort, we would like to in particular highlight the central role of the United Nations Information Centers. Their presence on the ground makes it possible to establish direct links with communities, the media, academia, and civil society. We encourage continuing strengthening this network, especially to reach audiences that traditionally have had limited contact with the Organization. Mr. Chairman, El Salvador reaffirms its commitment to multilingualism. essential principle to ensure inclusion, equal access to information, and the universal character of the United Nations. We observe with concern that current budgetary restrictions could compromise the progress achieved, in particular the production of multilingual content and the communication capacities on the ground. We acknowledge the need to use available resources efficiently; however, efficiency should not be achieved achieved at the expense of linguistic diversity or the fulfilment of the mandates established by Member States. We therefore encourage preserving these capacities and responsibly taking advantage of new technologies to expand the reach of communications while maintaining the standards of quality and accuracy. Mr. Chairman, we would also like to underscore the importance of preserving the integrity of information in the context of peacekeeping operations. The dissemination of inaccurate information and disinformation can hinder fulfillment of peacekeeping mandates, profoundly weaken trust of communities, and create security risks for deployed personnel. This is why we consider it fundamental to strengthen the capacities to combat damaging information. In this context, we recognize the campaign Service and Sacrifice, which highlights the contribution of those who serve in peacekeeping. keeping operations for El Salvador as a troop contributing country, these initiatives are of particular importance. This is why we encourage the Department to continue and expand these efforts, acknowledging the commitment and sacrifice of deployed personnel in favor of international peace and security. To conclude, we reiterate our support for the Department of Global Communication and for its efforts to adapt the communications of the United Nations to an environment increasingly complex, we are convinced that an effective communication not only transmits information, it promotes trust, understanding, and strengthens the collective commitment to multilateralism. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.

I thank the distinguished representative of El Salvador for her statement. And now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Malaysia.

You have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, for convening this meeting. Malaysia aligns itself with the statements delivered on behalf of ASEAN and the Group of 77 and China. At the outset, Malaysia commends the Department of Global Communications for its important role in bringing the work of the UN to audiences worldwide. As technology changes how information is produced and shared, the mandate of the Department to provide timely, accurate, impartial, and accessible information has never been more vital. Reliable information strengthens public trust in the UN, its work, and sustained support for multilateral cooperation. In this context, Malaysia wishes to highlight the following points. Firstly, sustainable development cannot succeed without public understanding and participation. Malaysia therefore welcomes the Department’s efforts to explain the Sustainable Development Goals in terms that matter to people, including how development challenges affect communities and what governments, businesses, and individuals can do to address them. At home, Malaysia launched a targeted district-based approach to SDG implementation in July this year. The initiative aims to strengthen public awareness and local participation through SDG exhibitions and public programs. By bringing information directly to communities, this approach connects global commitments with local priorities. It also helps build informed public support for public service reforms and investments in climate action, the energy transition, and digital infrastructure. Secondly, access to United Nations information should reach everyone, wherever they are. For many communities, universal and affordable connectivity remains a work in progress and one that calls for continued international support and investment. Until that gap is closed, the Department’s outreach must meet people wherever they are. in accessible formats and in languages they understand. This includes reaching them through radio, television, and print alongside digital platforms. Such outreach should be preserved even amid budgetary constraints. Mr. Chair, thirdly, wider access to information must be accompanied by stronger safeguards against misinformation and disinformation. Malaysia is concerned about the misuse of artificial intelligence to fabricate images, audio, and video that appear authentic. Deepfakes can impersonate individuals, facilitate fraud, and misrepresent organisations. Such manipulation can also undermine confidence in genuine information. Our response must therefore strengthen both information integrity and the security of the digital systems through which information is shared. As such, Malaysia has introduced measures at the national level. The Cybersecurity Act 2024 establishes mandatory cybersecurity requirements for entities responsible for designated national critical information infrastructure. We are also modernising our legal framework through the newly approved Cybercrime Bill 2026 to address deepfakes, AI-enabled fraud, and extraditable digital crimes. Mr Chair, fourthly, we must prevent disinformation from undermining UN operations and endangering its personnel. Allegations of misconduct by individual staff members must be examined through established UN investigative mechanisms. Such allegations must not be used to discredit the organization as a whole or obstruct its mandate. These principles are particularly important for UNRWA, which remains indispensable and irreplaceable in providing essential services to Palestinian refugees. Against this backdrop, Malaysia strongly condemns Israel’s disinformation and smear campaigns against UNRWA and other United Nations agencies. Such campaigns damage public confidence, jeopardise humanitarian assistance, and expose personnel to intimidation and violence. We call for sustained support for the agency and the protection of its staff. Fifthly, journalists and media workers must be protected so that they can report safely and independently. Their reporting informs the public about armed conflicts, identifies humanitarian needs, and documents possible violations of international law. In 2015, as a non-permanent member of the Security Council, Malaysia supported Resolution 2222, which reaffirms the protection of journalists as civilians in armed conflict and calls for accountability for crimes committed against them. We urge for its full implementation. Media facilities and telecommunications infrastructure must likewise be respected and protected as civilian objects, in accordance with international humanitarian law. The situation in Gaza demonstrates the consequences of failing to uphold these protections. Malaysia is appalled by the killings and injuries documented in the Special Rapporteur’s report on the occupied Palestinian territory, document A/81/249, The report records nearly 300 journalists killed and more than 400 wounded by Israeli forces since October 2023. Malaysia condemns the unlawful targeting of journalists. Journalists must be able to report without threats or reprisals against them or their families. We urge for accountability for those responsible of these violations. Mr. Chair, in conclusion, the Department's work matters now more than ever, and Malaysia continues to support it. We stand ready to work with Member States, UN entities, and relevant stakeholders to expand access to accurate information, strengthen public participation in sustainable development, and counter misinformation and disinformation. Protecting UN personnel and journalists must remain a shared priority. Through these partnerships, we must ensure that reliable information supports informed decisions, strengthens multilateral cooperation, and advances peace, sustainable development, and human rights for all. The Charter begins with three words: “We, the Peoples.” The UN belongs to them. Its information must reach them, wherever they are, and its truth must never be silenced. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Malaysia for his statement. And now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Côte d’Ivoire.

You have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. Chair, my delegation would like to thank the Under-Secretary-General for Global Communication for her enlightening briefing on the activities carried out by her department. Colombia also aligns itself with the statement made by Uruguay on behalf of the G-77 and China, and in our national capacity, we would like to make the following comments. Chair, in an international context that is marked by multidimensional crises and persisting geopolitical tensions, reliable information is an essential prevention tool to prevent conflicts and to strengthen international cooperation. However, the spread of disinformation, hate speech, online manipulation, and risks linked to artificial intelligence undermine public confidence and make collective solutions to the greatest challenges of our time harder to find. In this context, the Department for Global Communication plays a strategic role. in disseminating information on UN action impartially and clearly. It also provides information on the principles of the UN Charter and the outcomes of multilateral cooperation. In this connection, my delegation welcomes the initiatives presented in the Secretary-General’s report, particularly communication actions related to the Pact for the Future and the UN80 initiative. We also commend the Verified for Climate campaign, which mobilizes content creators to make scientific data on climate change more accessible to more people. According to the report, 198 videos made by filmed by climate messengers have garnered more than 225 million views. This is proof of the reach that digital partners have to raise awareness amongst people and to encourage engagement for the climate. In the field of peace and security, the Service and Sacrifice campaign has shed light on the contributions made by TCCs and PCCs to peacekeeping operations. Moreover, the global youth initiative, entitled Hear Us, Act Now for a Peaceful World, has fostered the holding of around 200 peace circles in more than 50 countries, thus showing the ability of communication to promote dialogue and mobilize young people for peace. Chair, these issues also echo Côte d'Ivoire's priorities. Côte d'Ivoire is working to promote an information environment that is more responsible and to make the digital environment a tool for modernization, inclusion, and sustainable development. In the same vein, my country has rolled out the We're All Responsible Online campaign and created local committees on the integrity of information. These initiatives seek to raise awareness regarding verification of information, prevent the spread of false information, and encourage the responsible use of media and social networks. This demonstrates our conviction, Chair, that the fight against disinformation is underpinned by education and civic responsibility, as well as by technological tools and the mobilization of local actors. In parallel, Cote d'Ivoire is continuing its digital transformation of its administration to facilitate access to public services. We have also strengthened our legislative and institutional framework on cybersecurity, with a view to better protecting our digital space. These efforts all form part of the same ambition: ensuring that technology benefits progress, trust, and social cohesion. Ennjoyed by this experience, Côte d'Ivoire calls for consistent, coherent action of the United Nations around three priorities. Firstly, preserving the integrity of information through strengthening education on media and promoting responsible use of artificial intelligence under human control. Then, guaranteeing equitable access to information. This is through fostering multilingualism and linguistic parity, as well as strengthening the UN Information Centres and reducing the digital divide so that no one is left behind. Finally, provide the Department for Global Communication with predictable and sufficient resources so that it is able to fully implement its mandate, all the while ensuring that journalists and media professionals are protected in line with applicable international law. Chair, these priorities show a commitment to reliable, impartial information that is accessible to all. This is a key condition to build confidence, promote dialogue and consolidate peace. Code d’Ivoire in this connection reaffirms its support for the Department of Global Communication in the fulfilment of its mandate and calls for collective mobilization so that UN communication can benefit effective, inclusive, and solidarity-based multilateralism. Thank you, Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of Cote d’Ivoire for her statement. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Oman.

You have the floor.

Peace and God’s blessings be upon you. Mr. Chair, at the outset, the delegation of the Sultanate of Oman would like to congratulate you and all members of the Bureau on assuming the leadership of the work of the Fourth Committee, and we wish you success in your duties. We confirm our country's support for all the efforts being undertaken to ensure the success of the Committee's work during the current session. My delegation associates itself with the statement delivered by the Group of 77 and China. Mr. Chair, distinguished delegates, The Sultanate of Oman wishes to emphasize the great importance of the role played by the United Nations Department of Global Communications and its regional centers in disseminating reliable information about the activities of the Organization as it marks the 80th anniversary of its establishment. We commend the efforts undertaken under the leadership of Melissa Fleming, Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications, in providing clear and reliable information about the work of the Organization and in improving its procedures and functions constantly, especially with regard to information integrity, the use of artificial intelligence, and the availability of media material in all six official languages, which would allow for wider access for speakers of different languages. The Sultanate of Oman proudly recalls its cooperation with the United Nations on part of the Audiovisual Archives Digitization Project dating back to the year 2016. This is an example that reflects our support for the Organization. My country commends the growing international efforts towards the implementation of Security Council resolution 2686 of the year 2023, in its capacity as a comprehensive framework for addressing hate speech and extremism in all its forms. We renew our support for the United Nations initiatives aimed at promoting tolerance and peace and mutual respect among peoples. Mr. Chair. The Sultanate of Oman believes that a free and responsible media is one of the pillars of transparency and accountability. It is a gateway towards enhancing participation and spreading the values of tolerance. The basic law of the founding law of the state safeguards this principle by guaranteeing freedom of opinion and expression through various means and within the limits of the law. Accordingly, media institutions in the country strive to provide content that balances between freedom and responsibility and promotes constructive dialogue that supports the path towards sustainable development. Here, the new law on the media, which was issued on the 10th of November 2024, was an important milestone in modernizing the legislative framework governing national media. It reinforced the freedom of expression and professional journalism and established clear foundations for transparency and accountability. It is aligned with Oman Vision 2040, which places special emphasis on digital transformation and innovation and the empowerment of youth in the media and intellectual fields. This is in line with the 2030 SDGs. Oman acceded in October 2025 to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights pursuant to a Sultanate Royal Decree No. 89/2025. This is a reaffirmation of Oman's commitment to the promotion of human rights and the protection of the freedom of opinion and expression, in accordance with Article 19 of the Covenant. This took place within the framework of a well-established national legislative system that balances between freedom and responsibility while preserving Omani values and principles. Mr. Chair, in light of the increasing importance of establishing a professional and balanced media sector that keeps pace with the digital age, especially as recent United Nations reports emphasize the need to counter misinformation and hate speech, that have been made worse by the spread of modern technology and AI, the Law on Combating Information Technology Crimes was issued by Royal Decree No. 61 of the year 2026. This law constitutes the fundamental pillar for protecting the digital space and regulating electronic content. It strengthens the cybersecurity framework by providing a comprehensive protection for data and information systems, and it combats emerging cybercrimes in all of their forms. Therefore, my country supports United Nations initiatives that are aimed at strengthening media and information literacy skills and that are geared towards empowering individuals to access reliable sources. These objectives are consistent with Oman's efforts to build a responsible and informed digital media environment. The Sultanate of Oman's rank in the 2026 Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index rose up by seven places, which is an indication of the impact of modernizing its media legislation. As is known, media plays an important role in conveying the truth, especially in areas of conflict. Therefore, my country strongly condemns the systematic targeting of media outlets and journalists worldwide. We condemn, in particular, what journalists in Palestine are subjected to by the Israeli occupation authorities. These actions are a grave violation of international humanitarian law and United Nations resolutions. My country emphasizes that the protection of journalists is a humanitarian and a legal obligation that the international community must fully uphold. Mr. Chair, in conclusion, the Sultanate of Oman reaffirms its steadfast support for the role of information and media in advancing the purposes of the UN and for promoting the values of justice and understanding and human coexistence, and for confronting hate speech and Islamophobia. We are confident that the Department of Global Communications will continue its efforts to translate these values into practical programs that promote a culture of peace and mutual respect. These are the same values that Oman Vision 2040 is built upon as it pursues a future based on humanity and innovation and sustainable prosperity. I thank you.

I thank you, the distinguished representative of Oman, for his statement. And now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Syrian Arab Republic.

You have the floor.

I thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, one of the main reasons for the outbreak of large-scale demonstrations in Syria in 2011 was the attempts by the media of the former regime at the time to spread misinformation and deception, and attempts to conceal the true causes of those demonstrations, which further intensified public frustration and enraged the anger of citizens who rejected the suppression of the truth. After more than 700 journalists and media professionals were martyred during the years of the Syrian revolution while attempting to convey the truth to the world, it has become important for us to make these sacrifices a foundation for a media sector that reflects the aspirations of the Syrian people. Therefore, the new Syria, after liberation, is now moving towards establishing a free media that is based on the fundamental principles of press freedom, and it's working to overcome what we inherited from the former regime in terms of administrative stagnation and weaknesses throughout the different fields. The new Syria, Mr. Chair, believes that the role of the media is embodied in relaying and conveying the facts and not distorting them, placing events in their proper context and free from misinformation, and addressing issues objectively and away from propaganda campaigns, and proposing solutions, not merely highlighting problems. And to achieve this, The Syrian Ministry of Information, at the beginning of this year, launched the Code of Professional and Ethical Conduct for the Media Sector in Syria. It consists of approximately 100 pages that were prepared by an independent national technical committee that is – and this is a foundational step in the process of building a free national media sector. This code of conduct represents a commitment and an initial effort to protect freedoms. However, it is not a substitute for the law or rigid ethical texts. Rather, it serves as a framework of self-regulation, and the media institutions were the first to adopt this code of conduct and uphold its ethical and professional principles and standards. Mr. Chair, Syria has recorded the greatest improvement in the 2026 World Press Freedom Index that is issued by the Reporters Without Borders organization. It climbed 36 places to hold the 141st rank compared to being 177th in the past. No country has ever risen by 36 spots in a single year on the Global Press Freedom Index. This major achievement comes after years where Syria was ranked among the 10th lowest performing countries on the index during the previous regime's rule. This improvement covered all the five indicators used for the ranking, with notable progress in the legal indicators. Syria is now only half a point away from moving into the orange zone of the classification. As part of international cooperation, the Syrian Academy of Media, in partnership with the Ministry of Information, And the UNDP launched the campaign called A Word Builds. And this campaign is being conducted throughout Syrian governorates to reduce hate speech and incitement and disinformation, and to promote responsible practices in content production and dissemination. This campaign seeks to strengthen professional awareness and responsible online behavior in a manner that supports social cohesion and preserves the national social fabric and promotes the values of coexistence and unity between the different components of Syrian society. It is part of the project to enhance national media capacities to counter hate speech and to promote peacebuilding in Syria. And here we emphasize that combating hate speech and disinformation does not mean restricting the freedom of expression. Rather, it means promoting responsible expression and verifying information and respecting human dignity. Moreover, the Permanent Committee on Freedoms in the General Union of Arab Journalists in Damascus on the 18th of October, this committee has launched the Damascus Declaration on Press Freedom and Media Solidarity. The declaration focuses on protecting journalists and their independence, and on upholding the freedom of expression and rejecting threats and attacks that target them. This declaration condemns the attacks and crimes committed by the Israeli occupation against journalists in Syria, Palestine, and Lebanon. It calls on the international community to hold those responsible accountable, and it calls for providing a safe working environment for journalists and for technical and professional support for Syrian media institutions. Colleagues, we have restructured the official media sector. Syrians today are able to follow their national media as it hosts diverse viewpoints and opinions, even if they differ with those of the government. This is a live embodiment of media freedom. And it comes after many years of struggle to convey the truth as it is, free from distortion or misinformation. In closing, Mr. Chair, with the liberation of Syria, and the fall of the former regime, Syrian journalists believed that the years of restrictions imposed upon them have come to an end. However, reality is different because the Israeli occupation forces continue to harass Syrian journalists who seek to document and report Israel's crimes, violations, and aggressive practices in southern Syria. Sometimes, Israel targets them with live fire. At times, it sends drones overhead. and at other times, it obstructs them and detains them. All of this is intended to prevent them from conveying the truth and carrying out their mission freely and safely. We stress the necessity of ensuring the protection of Syrian journalists in southern Syria, in the occupied Syrian territories. We stress the need to respect relevant international laws and to hold accountable those responsible for the Israeli violations that are directed against the journalists today after they have violated land, people, and the environment. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Syrian Arab Republic for his statement. And now, I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Sudan.

You have the floor.

Mr. Chair, at the outset, I’d like to express my thanks to the Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications, and her team. We thank her for her comprehensive briefing on the activities of the Department and the challenges it faces. We also extend our appreciation to the Committee on Information and its members for the work that they've done during the previous session and the current one. Sudan associates itself with the statement delivered on behalf of the G77 and China. The delegation of Sudan reaffirms the importance the important role of the United Nations, especially in providing reliable, objective, and accurate information, and in verifying news reports and their sources, and raising awareness of the purposes and principles of the United Nations. We commend the efforts of the DGC, which is a reference point for accurate and reliable information for all international media platforms and global news agencies on shared issues and challenges related to peace and security, development, human rights, and the causes of nations, and the promotion of the principles and purposes of the Charter of the UN and international law, which are increasingly being put to the test in many circumstances. Mr. Chair, today's world is marked by geopolitical tensions and armed conflicts, where inequality, poverty, and disasters spread. The importance of the United Nations and its media outlets is ever more important through their role in shedding light on issues that contribute to and fuel conflict, such as the proliferation and cross-border trafficking of weapons, the arming and financing of groups and militias operating outside the authority of the state and its national institutions, and providing them with financing as well as media support. These movements and these groups, which receive substantial external support from known external actors. have become even more dangerous than transnational terrorist armed groups, as they are all associated with chaos, destruction, and killing. Silence, indifference, and drug equivalence between national institutions and rebel militias, while turning a blind eye to the supporters and sponsors of these armed militias, as is happening in the Sudan. All of this is tantamount to giving license to and encouraging the killing of civilians and destabilizing the country. Discussions about protecting civilians or assisting civilians and expressing concern over the humanitarian situation becomes empty words, devoid of meaning or substance. Mr. Chair, acknowledging our shared responsibility and adhering to international law and the principles of integrity and humanity makes it important to deal with issues related to armed conflicts and wars in the media, to be done in a manner that is consistent with the principles of the United Nations and international law, and to avoid double standard and selectivity in such coverage. And in this context, we note and we emphasize that misleading and inaccurate media characterizations and narratives can contribute towards deepening divisions and undermining Sudan's sovereignty, unity, and security, and stability. They weaken efforts to protect civilians when such narratives equate a national and patriotic army on the one hand, and on the other hand with a terrorist rebel militia, a militia that has committed atrocities and acts of genocide, as attested to by senior officials and investigative reports and credible evidence that is visible to all and documented by the perpetrators themselves, including explicit and terrifying statements appeared in recorded videos, as what happened in the city of Al-Fashir in western Sudan. We call upon the United Nations to reject these misleading and inaccurate characterizations and narratives and to combat them. We must not turn a blind eye to the atrocities and the violations that are taking place while reliable and accurate information continues to emerge on the attacks and crimes committed by the rebel militias against civilians, and the open support for these militias in terms of weapons and military equipment and financial support. I thank you, Mr. Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of Sudan for his statement. And now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Yemen.

You have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. My delegation wishes to express its deep appreciation to you and the members of the Bureau, and we thank you for the efforts you have made in guiding our work. We thank the USG of the Department of Global Communications for her briefing, and we have taken note of the reports that have been submitted under this agenda item. Mr. Chair, Yemen reaffirms the fundamental importance of multilingualism within the United Nations system as a cornerstone for achieving equality and promoting inclusiveness and respecting cultural and linguistic diversity. And here we stress the need to ensure the balanced use of all official languages, including the Arabic language, across the various activities and programs of the United Nations, and in a manner that would guarantee people's access to information and their active participation in issues of common concern. We emphasize that information or media is no longer merely a tool to convey news; rather, it's become an essential element to shape public opinion and to foster dialogue and understanding between peoples and to promote a culture of peace and coexistence and combat hate speech, extremism, Islamophobia, and all other forms of religious and cultural discrimination. From this perspective, we note the importance of addressing the digital and information gap between developed and developing countries. This gap continues to limit the ability of many peoples to access information and to participate equally in the international media sphere. This calls for strengthening international cooperation and supporting UN initiatives that are aimed at developing a digital infrastructure and building capacities, and ensuring that developing countries benefit from advances in technology and the media. The freedom of the media cannot be achieved without ensuring an environment that is safe and independent, and that allows journalists and media professionals to carry out their duties without being afraid of being targeted or intimidated or being the subject of retaliation. And here my delegation stresses that the protection of journalists is a collective responsibility. that is placed upon the international community, and it must be fulfilled in accordance with international law and relevant laws and rules. In this context, my delegation condemns the violations and attacks against journalists in the occupied Palestinian territory and in Lebanon at the hands of the Israeli occupation forces, the occupying power. Journalists are being targeted and are the subjects of attacks that hinder their ability to perform their duties and violate their right to report facts freely and objectively. We affirm that targeting journalists and restricting their work are violations of international standards that guarantee the freedom of the press and the freedom of expression. We call the international community and the United Nations to take serious measures to ensure their protection and to hold accountable those responsible for the violations perpetrated against them. Mr. Chair, one cannot speak of the protection of the freedom of information and human rights without addressing the grave violations committed by the terrorist Houthi militias in Yemen against United Nations personnel and those working in humanitarian and human rights fields in Yemen and civil society organizations. My delegation strongly condemns the death of Yemeni staff member Mohammed Ibrahim Ashami, an employee of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, while he was being arbitrarily detained in Houthi militia prisons. And his corpse was not handed back to his family. And this crime reflects the seriousness of the violations suffered by personnel and those working in the United Nations, other United Nations and humanitarian organizations. And this incident is an extension of previous incidents, including the death of a World Food Program employee, Ahmed Baalawi, in February 2025, and security and safety director at Save the Children, Hisham Al-Hakimi, in October 2023. Moreover, these militias, These terrorist militias continue to detain 70 UN staff members and five former staff members, in addition to dozens of workers from humanitarian organizations and civil society. The Yemeni government holds the terrorist Houthi militias fully responsible for these violations. And we call upon the United Nations and the international community to adopt a firm position and to exert the necessary pressure to secure the the immediate and unconditional release of all detainees, and to uncover the circumstances surrounding the death of Mohammed Alshaimi, and to conduct an independent and transparent investigation into it and hold those responsible for these violations accountable to ensure that they do not enjoy impunity. Mr. Chair, these violations are inseparable from the approach that the terrorist Houthi militias pursue in suppressing the freedom of opinion and expression, and in silencing voices that oppose it. These militias continue to target journalists and media professionals and media outlets in the areas under their control through arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance, torture, and through issuing unjust death sentences against a number of them. These practices are a flagrant violation of international laws and conventions and national legislation. They are an attack on the fundamental rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Yemeni constitution. They intend to silence free voices and prevent the exposure of the violations against the Yemeni people, while also exploiting media outlets to spread extremist ideas and to promote their ideology and to serve their own agenda. My delegation calls upon the international community and the United Nations to condemn these practices clearly and openly, and to take firm measures to put a stop to them, and to work towards securing the release of detained journalists and media professionals who are being held in the prisons of these militias, and to hold accountable those responsible for the violations committed against them. and to provide a safe and independent media environment that respects the freedom of the press and the freedom of expression, and guarantees the Yemeni society's right to access information. In closing, Mr. President, Mr. Chair, the Republic of Yemen stresses the importance of strengthening international cooperation to develop the information and media system at the national and international levels, to enhance the role of information and the media in serving peace and fostering understanding among peoples, and achieving the purposes and objectives of the United Nations. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Yemen for her statement. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Cameroon.

You have the floor.

Thank you, Chair.

My delegation would like to thank Ms. Fleming for her briefing and express our gratitude to the Secretary-General for the complete reports put forward in this agenda item. These documents shed light, and relevantly so, on the changing global communication landscape. Throughout this session, our work is part of a broader vision of rebuilding trust and managing the global transformation to build a UN that can benefit all. Nowhere is this transformation more dynamic and more vulnerable than in the field of ICTs. As information networks rebuild and reform human interaction, the role of DGC becomes more and more crucial, and its action is even more urgent. Cameron welcomes the creativity and the commitment of this department to make the essential mission of our organization more widely known, whether it's mobilizing global climate action, promoting accelerated implementation of SDGs, or in managing the toxic flows of misinformation, disinformation online. The GGC is the key part of the complex machinery of international diplomacy and the day-to-day life of the world as a whole. Chair, distinguished delegates, while we are celebrating the major, the benefits of the digital era, we are also aware and standing up against the profound inequality. The global digital divide isn't a technical obstacle. It is a structural issue that perpetuates injustices in various areas. Across Africa, millions of people remain very marginalized and excluded from opportunities that are linked to ICT development. because of major lacking in infrastructure and modern equipment, as our leaders recently highlighted at the General Assembly's general debate. This must be of benefit to the entirety of humanity rather than worsening existing disparities.

Real global solidarity will only be possible.

When structural imbalances who currently determine who is heard and who is ignored are addressed. In this connection, we call on the UN, international financial institution, and private sector to transform this digital divide. into a platform, a springboard for transformation of ICTs, capacity building in Africa and other work. Equally, Chair, so that information can really empower people, it must resonate in a language that they understand perfectly. Proud to be a bilingual nation working both in French and English every day, Cameroon considers multilingualism to be a central pillar of multilateralism and an ultimate guarantor of transparency. We advocate for total linguistic parity, uncompromising across all UN platforms. Information, press releases, digital content, and official documents must be disseminated equitably in all six official languages. Moreover, we would recall that in numerous regions of the developing world, traditional media, particularly radio, remain the main or indeed only crucial link to vulnerable or rural populations. We'd urge DGC to preserve and strengthen its resources allocated to radio, traditional radio broadcasting and services in local languages so that no marginalized people are left behind.

The democratization of information has also brought forth a deeply troubling reality: the weaponization of the digital ecosystem. The rapid, unmitigated proliferation of misinformation, disinformation, and hate speech poses a severe, immediate threat to social cohesion, democratic institutions, national stability, and sustainable development. False narratives often manufactured externally or amplified by unregulated algorithms, have the capacity to destabilize entire regions, undo decades of peacebuilding, and distort the legitimate efforts of sovereign governments. While Cameroon remains unyielding in its defense of freedom of expression and the press, we strongly maintain that freedom cannot exist in a vacuum of accountability. Digital platforms and social media conglomerates cannot operate above the law, or detach themselves from the societal consequences of their business models. We call for the robust implementation of international frameworks that hold these platforms accountable to principles of human dignity, transparency, and truth. More importantly, all international communication strategies and intervention must strictly respect the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political independence of member states in strict conformity with the UN Charter. No digital initiative should be utilized as a tool for interference in the domestic affairs of sovereign nations. Mr. Chair, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, turning to our national context, Cameroon continues to actively leverage information and communication tools to advance peace, development, and civic cohesion. In response to security challenges in the Lake Chad Basin and stabilization efforts in the Northwest and Southwest regions, our national strategy prioritizes using communication to heal, rebuild, and reintegrate. We are actively deploying targeted communication campaigns to encourage social rehabilitation and support individuals who choose to voluntarily abandon violence and embrace peaceful civic reintegration. Concurrently, we are investing heavily in nationwide media literacy programs designed to equip our youth with the critical thinking skills required to identify, reject, and combat online radicalization and divisive disinformation. We highly value our ongoing operational partnership with the UN Information Centers. and other local UN entities. We call on the DGC to further strengthen the institutional capacity of field offices through Africa, providing them with autonomous resources to counter local destabilization narratives with timely, objective, and culturally synchronized facts. Mr. Chair, in conclusion, Cameroon reemphasizes that a fair, secure, and equitable information environment is an absolute prerequisite for a peaceful world order. We cannot build a shared future on fractured data or digital exclusion. My delegation stands ready to work constructively with all Member States to adopt draft resolutions that empower the DGC, narrow the technological gap between the developed countries and the global South, and preserve the integrity of our shared global discourse. I thank you for your kind attention.

I thank the distinguished representative of Cameroon for his statement, and I give the floor to the distinguished representative of United Kingdom.

You have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. The United Kingdom thanks the Department of Global Communications, under the leadership of Under-Secretary-General Fleming, for its impactful work, including on information integrity. As UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham warned at the General Assembly, we face an industrial-scale assault by hostile actors on our information environment, one that corrodes trust, fuels conflict, and puts lives at risk. And we know that artificial intelligence will multiply the threat of misinformation and disinformation, spreading it faster, targeting it more precisely, and making false content harder to detect. In humanitarian crises, harmful information can undermine access to aid, shatter trust, fracture social cohesion, and put staff in danger, according to the IFRC's World Disasters Report for 2026. The United Kingdom calls for action in three areas. First, member states must defend the integrity of the United Nations as a source of trusted information. Disinformation is being weaponized and targeted against all of us, not just by individuals or groups, but by member states of this organization. The UK will continue to expose Russian disinformation. The Kremlin spends around 1.3 billion every year manipulating information. This involves utilizing faceless online bot farms and troll networks to target democratic processes and spread disinformation at scale. That's why the UK recently announced a package of 31 additional sanctions, specifically focused on Kremlin disinformation networks. Furthermore, our prime minister has also announced the creation of a National Center for Information Defense to detect and disrupt these kinds of hostile state information attacks. and to support and defend our democracy. We will use our experience to help others. For example, we have already supported Moldova to protect its elections from Russian interference. And we will put AI at the heart of the UK's G20 presidency next year, working with partners to support delivering on the potential of AI for good and dealing with the risks. Second, We must tackle disinformation that undermines the UN’s core mission to protect international peace and security. Disinformation targeting UN peacekeeping is not harmless noise. It creates real-world danger for peacekeepers, communities, and the missions they serve. False and misleading narratives have incited violence, contributed to the loss of peacekeepers’ lives, and led to the destruction of UN assets. Attacks on peacekeepers also cause lasting physical and psychological harm. The scale is stark. Last year, 76% of peacekeepers surveyed by the UN Department of Peace Operations reported that misinformation and disinformation had a moderate to severe impact on their safety and security while carrying out life-saving work. The UK continues to use its extra-budgetary funding to support projects to improve the safety and security of peacekeepers. including to support peacekeepers in tackling the threats posed by misinformation and disinformation through the provision of training and the development of technological tools and mechanisms to strengthen information integrity. Thirdly, we must protect independent journalism. As a co-founder of the Media Freedom Coalition, the United Kingdom remains a steadfast advocate for journalists' safety and protection. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, 129 journalists and media workers were killed in 2025, the deadliest year since CPJ began collecting data. International humanitarian law protects reporters covering conflict. Yet where a jacket marked "Press" once offered protection, it is now too often treated as a target. Every attack on a media worker must be investigated. Those responsible must be brought to justice. in accordance with national and international law. Chair, misinformation and disinformation thrive when the truth is weakly defended. Our response must be stronger and more united. We must expose lies, protect those who report the truth, and hold accountable those who weaponize deception. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of United Kingdom for his statement. I will give the floor to the distinguished representative of Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

You have the floor.

Mr. Chairman, My delegation aligns itself with the statements made by Uruguay and the Russian Federation on behalf of G-77 and China and the Group of Friends in Defence of the Charter of the United Nations. We commend the efforts of the UN Department of Global Communications to revitalize the information activity on a global level. Mr. Chairman, the information activity plays an hugely important role in terms of maintaining international peace and security, achieving sustainable development goals, and implementing the UN's major mandates, such as addressing the climate change. Today, the UN-centered multilateralism is under increasing pressure due to high-handedness and arbitrariness by hegemonic forces, and new and emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, are posing serious challenges, coupled with opportunities. Under these circumstances, it is becoming all the more indispensable to ensure accuracy, impartiality, and objectivity of information activity. First, in terms of establishing a just international information order, what is most important is to adhere to the fundamental principles of respect for sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs without fail. We express deep concern that hegemonic forces are monopolizing latest means of information and using them for disseminating their values and undermining the independent and sovereign states from within. Those moves are totally unacceptable, as they constitute a flagrant violation of the UN Charter, which stipulates the principles of respect for sovereignty and non-intervention, and norms of international law governing the relations between states. All Member States should heighten vigilance against and resolutely reject the politically motivated moves of hegemonic forces to spread misinformation and disinformation, and carry out information activities in good faith with a sole purpose of truly contributing to the realization of international justice and equality, as well as cooperation between the States. Second, it is also important to ensure the accurate and impartial transmission of information based on the principle of information integrity. In this regard, my delegation brings to the attention that some UN entities, such as the Human Rights Council, are drawing up and publishing selective and discriminatory reports full of groundless and distorted narratives. In particular, we express deep concern that the UN Handbook, updated and published annually, describes the UN Command in the ROK as a subsidiary organ of the UN Security Council. The UN Command, a ghost entity which was fabricated illegally by the U.S., abusing the name of the UN, has nothing to do with the UN. UN's high-ranking officials attested to it on several occasions. More than 40 years have passed since the adoption of the UNGA resolution and the dissolution of the UN Command as part of the effort to ensure lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula and restore authority and impartiality of the UN. However, this illegal entity is now moving towards revival and expansion, revealing its aggressive and provocative nature more obviously. Such an abnormal move aimed at a UN member state will erode trust in the UN and bring about harmful consequences of triggering tensions and confrontation among member states. Third, it is imperative to pay primary attention to bridging the divide of information and communications technology among states. and enhance access to ICT and capacity building of developing countries. To this end, effective and action-oriented measures should be proactively taken to further increase international cooperation in the information sector, such as transfer of advanced information and communications technology, personnel trainings, improvement of information infrastructure, and others, vis-à-vis developing countries. In closing, the DPRK remains firmly committed to joining the international efforts for establishing a new, just international information order and promoting global peace and security, social cohesion, and sustainable development in the future too. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Democratic People’s Republic of Korea for his statement. And now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Russian Federation.

You have the floor.

Chair, we'd like to thank the Secretary General for his report on the activities of the Department for Global Communications. We listened very carefully to the statement from USG Melissa Fleming. By way of addition to the statement made by delegation on behalf of the Group of Friends in Defense of the UN Charter, I'd like to note the following in a national capacity. Chair, we know the ongoing problems with the objectivity and impartiality in the work of GGC on reporting on international events. UN official resources still contain biased material reflecting the political interests of a narrow group of Western states. The selectivity is particularly noticeable when reporting on the Ukraine issue, where the position of Russia is often left out in these publications. Once again, we call on the leadership of DGC to take the necessary measures to address this kind of unacceptable situation. Chair, we must state the worsening situation with free access to information and media pluralism in the countries of the collective West. There is continuing cleansing of information space from ridding it of alternative points of view. The various instruments of political censorship are being used, broadcast bans and sanctions and criminal prosecution of journalists. Particularly eloquent is the situation in the Baltics. In September this year, Lithuanian media regulators demanded to block another 12 internet resources that broadcast programs from the Sputnik Radio. In October saw new limitations on restrictions on seven domains via which Russian TV channels were available, including Channel One and Russia One. There is still pressure continues on Russian media workers. For example, in July this year, at the Manchester airport, RT producer James Scott was detained and questioned. This provocative action is part of an aggressive Russophobic model of London. There are still obstacles to the work of Russian journalists and correspondents in several European states. In this connection, there is a legitimate question to be asked: how can this practice sit alongside Western countries' declared commitment to the freedom of expression and the right to unhindered access to information. Chair, the vile internet resource "Peacekeeper" Mirrotvorets is still running. It contains the personal data of those undesirable to Kyiv, including journalists and also children. At the same time, according to information that we have available, for this resource to function, the infrastructure of Western providers is being used. Of particular concern is the physical safety of Russian press representatives. As a result of Ukrainian Air Force attacks in 2025, no less than six Russian media workers were killed carrying out journalism. These include Alexander Martinyanov, Alexander Fedochuk, Andrei Panov, Anna Prokofieva, Nikita A driver of a film crew of the TV channel Zvezda, Alexander Syakry, also died. Attacks on journalists have continued into this year. At the same time, specialised international structures still are demonstrating an often formal and selective approach. These kind of double standards are de facto preserving this atmosphere of impunity, and it discredits the international system for protection of journalists. In conclusion, we would like to note that particular attention should be paid to ensuring full and equal use of all six official languages of the UN. We believe it important to improve the work of UN Web TV to ensure timely access to information and materials, including in Russian. We see opportunities for the use of AI technologies in the work of DGC, primarily to ensure linguistic parity. At the same time, it is crucial to preserve human control on them and not allow unverified information to be spread, nor misrepresentations of the position of Member States. We also think it's important to preserve and strengthen the network of EU and information centres, including preserving their staffing and resource. capacity. Thank you for your attention.

I thank the distinguished representative of Russia Federation for his statement, and now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Republic of Korea.

You have the floor.

Mr. Chair, I would like to begin by congratulating you on your election and assuring you of my delegation's full support and cooperation. I also wish to thank Under-Secretary-General Melissa Fleming and the entire Department of Global Communications staff for their dedicated work and for preparing the Secretary-General’s report A/81/341. The Republic of Korea would like to make three points. First. With the United Nations facing serious challenges, clear and effective communication is essential to strengthen public trust in our organization. The UN's message must be on this horse and engage more directly with the people it serves. Its work and the difference it makes in people's lives should be better understood around the world. Strategic communication is therefore not a secondary task. It is essential to our mission. The Republic of Korea has also been working to raise public awareness of the United Nations and its work domestically. As part of this effort, our government co-hosted this year's United Nations Day commemoration with the United Nations Association of the Republic of Korea. We are also encouraged to see growing coverage of UN-related issues in Korean media. To reach a global audience, we must speak their language. That is why multilingualism in the UN matters. We welcome DGCS' efforts to reach audiences beyond the six official languages and hope to see this effort further expanded, including in languages that have so far received less attention. Second, artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming the global information environment. If used responsibly, AI can be a powerful tool for making information more accessible and communication more inclusive. We are already seeing how AI-powered translation allows content to cross language barriers and reach new audiences around the world. This demonstrates the enormous potential of AI to make UN communications more accessible and far-reaching. At the same time, we must ensure that these technologies are used in a transparent, trustworthy, and human-centered manner. In this regard, we welcome DG Shi's recent initiative to pilot the United Nations purse, which used AI to provide timely and concise summaries of UN-related news, as well as the introduction of automatic captions and transcript on UN Web TV. We look forward to seeing this initiative further developed. Third, we must also recognize the serious risk that AI posed to information integrity. AI-generated images, videos, and other synthetic content are increasingly being misused to spread disinformation, particularly during crisis, elections, and conflict. As these technologies become more sophisticated, it is becoming harder for people to distinguish authentic information from fabricated content. In response, the Republic of Korea is strengthening its whole-of-government efforts to combat the spread of false and manipulated information involving AI. We are also taking steps to prevent the online spread of such information, including amendments to relevant legislation, while safeguarding freedom of expression. No country or institution can address this challenge alone. challenge alone. International cooperation is essential, and we believe these concerns deserve attention in broader discussions on AI governance at the United Nations. The Republic of Korea looks forward to an open and constructive exchange of views among Member States on this issue. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of the Republic of Korea for her statement, and now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Islamic Republic of Iran.

You have the floor.

In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful. Mr. Chair, my delegation associates itself with the statements delivered by Uruguay and Russian Federation on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, as well as the Group of Friends in Defense of the Charter of the United Nations, respectively. My delegation also reaffirms the central role of the Committee on Information in guiding United Nations communications policies. We value the work of the Department of Global Communications and underline that its output must remain accurate, impartial, comprehensive, balanced, and timely, consistent with General Assembly resolutions and decisions, as well as free from discrimination against any Member State. Mr. Chair, distinguished colleagues, Amongst rising international tensions, the weaponization of information is a matter of increasingly serious concern. My delegation strongly condemns the use of propaganda campaigns, digital platforms, and communications infrastructure to advance colonial and expansionist objectives, incite violence, and undermine the sovereignty, security, and stability of independent states. We reiterate our condemnation of propaganda designed or likely to provoke or encourage threats to peace, breaches of the peace, or acts of aggression. The proliferation of inflammatory, divisive, and bellicose rhetoric in statements, Posts, threats, and captions published by American and Israeli public officials on social media require serious attention from the international community in the interest of maintaining international peace and security. Threats against territorial integrity and political independence, expressions of contempt for the dignity, civilizations, and cultures of peoples, And this regard for their permanent sovereignty over natural resources run counter to international law and the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter. Respect for the sovereign equality of states and the fundamental rights of peoples must not be made contingent upon military capabilities, including the possession of nuclear weapons. All states are entitled to respect for their sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political independence, and all must fulfill their obligations under the Charter. We further condemn the use of official communications by these officials to convey unlawful threats or exercise coercion against sovereign states, including our country. We also express our deep concern over the exploitation of public authority to disseminate irresponsible political messaging including misinformation and disinformation, and to secure private financial gain, inter alia, through the sale of preferential access to market-moving political messages. Communications affecting international peace, economic stability, and the livelihood of millions of people around the world must not become instruments of intimidation or private enrichment. Islamic Republic of Iran reiterates the importance of accurate and sustained reporting on the humanitarian situation in Palestine and other occupied territories in the region, including the grave consequences of bloodshed crimes and aggression by Israeli regime against Palestinian people and other nations in the region. We reject fabricated narratives that stigmatize the legitimate struggle of the people of Palestine and others under Israeli occupation and misrepresent solidarity with them as support for terrorism. Expressions of concern by the international community and United Nations officials as a response to the scale of civilian suffering and documented violations cannot simply be dismissed by representatives of the occupying regime of Israel as evidence of partiality. On the contrary, to what this regime tries to dictate to others, The killing of journalists, the destruction of media facilities and civilian communications infrastructure, and the detention and harassment of those reporting those realities demand scrutiny, not silence. Attempts to discredit those who speak out cannot obscure the gravity of Israeli violations or diminish their responsibility to ensure accountability. Attacks against journalists and media workers, including unlawful attacks on buildings used for journalism and broadcasting, including the direct strike against our national broadcasting center, must not go unanswered. We demand accountability and an end to impunity. The Department must continue to raise awareness and report on the implementation of relevant United Nations mandates. Mr. Chair, we also call for sustained action against Islamophobia, religious stereotyping, and inflammatory media narratives. The Department should strengthen its cooperation with the Special Envoy to Combat Islamophobia and reflect the results of its awareness-raising and outreach activities in its reporting. Digital platforms, satellite operators, and service providers must respect human rights and applicable international humanitarian law and address adverse impacts associated with their activities. Member States, for their part, must fulfill their applicable obligations to prevent and investigate abuses within their territory or jurisdiction, provide effective remedies, and ensure accountability. The widening information and digital divides continue to disadvantage developing countries. Affordable access, technology transfer on mutually agreed terms, and sustained capacity building remain essential. Unilateral coercive measures and restrictions on technology transfer further obstruct these objectives. Digital technologies, including artificial intelligence, must serve equitable development in conformity with the Charter and the principles of sovereignty and non-interference. Their use in United Nations communications must preserve human oversight, verification, and editorial accountability. Mr. Chair, reform and efficiency measures must comply with agreed mandates and Member State priorities. They must strengthen transparency and effectiveness without diminishing multilingualism, equitable geographical distribution, or communications capacity in developing countries. The biannual consideration of resolutions must be understood solely as a working method measure to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enable the United Nations to operate with greater agility. Any interpretation that diminish the authority of these resolutions or the importance of annual intergovernmental oversight is unacceptable. Annual committee meetings and implementation reviews must remain substantive and effective. Finally, we reaffirm multilingualism as a core value of the Organization and call for expanded outreach in non-official languages, including Persian, as recognized in relevant General Assembly resolutions. Persian language, with its rich literary and civilizational Heritage provides a valuable medium for dialogue and mutual understanding. We encourage the Department to expand its Persian language news coverage, broadcasts, and information products, and to harness technological innovation to broaden access while safeguarding linguistic quality, professional standards, and accessibility for persons with disabilities. I thank you, Mr. Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of Islamic Republic of Iran for his statement. And now I have a quick announcement. Distinguished delegates, we will only have three speakers who are ready to speak today, but still one hour of debate. Bearing in mind that the debate will continue the general debate tomorrow and take action also on the two proposals under this item tomorrow, and to make the best use of the conference services, I would like to appeal to the delegations to deliver their statement, if possible, today, and indicate

this to the Secretariat at the speaker's table if ready to do so.

And now we continue. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Japan.

You have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

My delegation wishes to express its deep appreciation and high tribute to the Department of Global Communications.

for its outstanding achievements highlighted in the Secretary-General’s report.

At a time of heightened geopolitical tensions and declining trust in multilateralism, the Department has consistently made a compelling case for multilateral cooperation and United Nations reform. By delivering timely, objective, and multi-platform communications on the UN’s core priorities, such as climate action, crisis response,

sustainable development, peace and security, human rights, and information integrity, the Department has successfully bridged the gap between the UN’s global mandates and the public’s understanding.

In particular, we commend the Department and the United Nations Information Centre in Tokyo for their exceptional efforts in the following three areas: local awareness raising led by the City of Tokyo. And we have developed this as a key part of the UN in Japan. and UNICS with innovative partnerships.

This organization has celebrated its 70th anniversary, and also had local campaigns such as peace circles. These were crucial for mobilizing civil society and younger generations, thus strengthening involvement and support from the public to the UN. Secondly, We had a 2025 exhibition in Osaka. We very much appreciate the swift implementation by the Department of this exhibition. Several activities, such as an exhibition of a decade of impact in New York,

as well as attention paid by the Department to the Peace Bell in the Japanese Garden, of the Japanese garden at the headquarters. These are all excellent examples of initiatives that promote multilateralism and bring the UN's work closer to a broader public.

Thirdly and lastly, strengthening integrity of information and the responsible use of AI.

Japan believes that misinformation, disinformation and hate speech are global threats. We support the global UN principles on information integrity, and we recommend strengthening of resilience in society through education about the media and the empowerment of individuals.

In addition, we officially support the responsible use of AI by the Department to fight disinformation and to preserve multilingualism.

In promoting safe, secure, and trustworthy AI, in line with the spirit of the Hiroshima Process on AI, human dignity must remain the bedrock of this work, and much like in the military field, international law and human oversight are crucial.

Here we warmly congratulate the Department on their guidelines on AI and innovative tools such as Tourok.

These support the UN80 initiative directly.

My delegation remains fully committed to closely work with the Department as part of common efforts to make the UN system really ready for the future. Thank you very much.

I thank the distinguished representative of Japan for her statement. And now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Monaco.

You have the floor.

Mr.

Chair, allow me to begin by addressing to you and to members of the Bureau my congratulations for your conduct of the work in the Fourth Committee. My delegation would like to underscore the importance of the Department of Global Communications in disseminating reliable and multilingual information. This information is essential to better understand the activities of our organization and contribute to an atmosphere of trust in international institutions. However, reliability of information is not sufficient. The communication of the United Nations must also adapt to the expectations of the people and their use of information. A global strategy should go hand in hand with a more decentralized communication that is capable of disseminating through channels that allow the UN to reach its public. On this point, direct and regular communication on the ground is essential. This proximity makes the action of the UN more visible, more human, and more understandable. Our organization must be able to take the floor more quickly and more flexibly, but also more frequently, and not only in situations of crisis. to explain what it has achieved and to renew dialogue with various populations. We also want to recall our attachment to the principle of freedom of expression and the protection of journalists. Their work remains essential to the exercise of fundamental rights and through the transparency of public life. Everywhere around the world, media professionals continue to face threats, intimidation. campaigns of harassment and too often face violence that compromise their security and independence. My delegation would also like to remind everyone that the protection of journalists falls within international humanitarian law, and they can under no circumstances be targeted. We must step up our efforts to ensure that they are protected. attacks that we just mentioned do not only target those who act as journalists, but also they deprive populations from their right to free, diversified and inclusive information. The protection of journalists, including in the digital environment, therefore, is also of crucial importance. As part of the campaign for security of journalists of the Council of Europe, called Journalists Count, the Principality has focused its attention on the topic of young people in the face of disinformation. While Monaco is currently chairing the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, the Principality wanted to raise awareness among young people in Europe on being proactive in terms of combating disinformation by involving them specifically in developing solutions. An international conference, a high-level conference, will be organized on this topic. the 9th and 10th of November of this year in Strasbourg, and will mark the closure of our chairmanship. Mr. Chairman, artificial intelligence is increasingly playing a very important role. It plays a fundamental role in the economic dynamism of our societies. We must make sure that new technologies do not become instruments to amplify hate speech, polarization, or discrimination. Algorithms could favor, could promote people withdrawing into closed information spaces. You can take as an example sports. Sports is a vector of dialogue, communication, and rapprochement between people. However, It's also frequently exposed to disinformation, hate speech. In the face of these excesses, the media plays an important role to promote responsible, respectful, and inclusive information. For the Principality of Monaco, for which sports is an essential instrument for diplomacy and social cohesion, it is essential to preserve this vector for solidarity, tolerance. It's important also that this be reflected in the information environment. Mr. Chairman, Monaco supports the global principles of the United Nations for the integrity of information and hails the work of the Global Department of Information seeking to implement them. In 2026, the principality particularly attached importance to these efforts. In fact, we enacted a law on this in order to combat new forms of violence for which technology has amplified visibility by facilitating the withdrawal of illegal contents and also facilitating recourse to justice. In conclusion, communication of the United Nations must combine a global vision with a strong local presence, reliable information that is with scientific rigor, multilingual, with local voices is essential to promote trust, multilateralism, and support the implementation of the SDGs and the three pillars of the Charter. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Monaco for her statement. And now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Ethiopia.

You have the floor.

Mr. Chair. Ethiopia aligns itself with the statement delivered by Uragai on behalf of Group of 77 and China. We express our gratitude to the Department of Global Communications for its efforts to promote information integrity, multilingualism, and public access to reliable information. We stand at a critical junction where technological breakthroughs are fundamentally reshaping human connection. In navigating this rapidly evolving landscape, Ethiopia successfully executing its landmark Digital Ethiopia 2030 strategy. Through this initiative, we have expanded connectivity to millions of telecom subscribers, deployed the digital FIDA national ID system, and established a robust national data governance framework. However, this national progress contrasts sharply with a profound global imbalance. While global connectivity expands and information moves faster ever than, the digital divide continues to widen, and the integrity of shared facts is being severely compromised. Access to verifiable data remains a fundamental pillar of democratic participation and transparency. Furthermore, as developing nations rapidly move online, they increasingly become the primary targets of sophisticated AI-driven disinformation campaigns that manipulate public discourse at unprecedented scale. The complex linguistic landscapes of developing nations are particularly weaponized by these false narratives. This poses a direct threat to national security and the social equation. The danger can also affect to the safety of UN personnel, particularly in peacekeeping environments where Ethiopia remains a proud and historic contributor. To confront these urgent challenges, Ethiopia calls for immediate collective action across three key pillars. First, combating disinformation and AI risks. We must decisively counter the proliferation of misinformation, disinformation, and weaponized hate speech. While we commend the DGC for its global principle for information integrity, The rapid rise of generative artificial intelligence demands a more robust and coordinated international response. We must establish inclusive global digital frameworks that protect public institutions and prevent digital platforms from being leveraged to destabilize sovereign states. Second, urgently, Bridging the digital divide. Information cannot truly be a universal public good if billions of people across the global south remain disconnected from credible knowledge networks. True digital transformation requires equitable access to technology, robust infrastructure investments, and widespread digital literacy. International cooperation remains vital to ensure that Developing countries are active architects of the digital age, rather than passive consumers. Third, advancing multilingualism and local engagement. Multilingualism is indispensable to the United Nations' communication strategy. Information must be accessible to all people in the language they understand to build global trust and foster genuine inclusion. We urge the DGC to expand its outreach across diverse linguistic landscapes, ensuring that the voices, nuanced translation realities, and perspectives of the Global South are accurately represented on the global stage. Mr. Chair, Ethiopia remains steadfastly committed to supporting the DGC in fulfilling its vital mission. We firmly believe that by defending information integrity, closing the digital divide, and ensuring equitable representation, the international community can effectively harness the power of information as a catalyst for global unity. In doing so, we must ensure that this progress strictly respects data sovereignty while advancing sustainable development and mutual understanding. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Ethiopia for his statement, and I give the floor to the distinguished representative

of Egypt with thanks for responding to our appeal. You have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, for giving my delegation the floor. At the outset, we align ourselves with the statement made by Uruguay on behalf of the Group of 77. Mr. Chair, I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Arab Republic of Egypt on this important item relating to the work of the Committee on Information. I would like to reiterate my country’s full support for the mandate of the Committee and for the role of the DGC in promoting the mission of the United Nations, especially in light of the unprecedented challenges facing multilateral action. Egypt emphasizes that effective communication and reliable information are an essential pillar for building trust among peoples and in supporting joint efforts to achieve peace and development. In this context, Egypt commends the pivotal role of the United Nations Information Center in Cairo, as it is a vital bridge between the UN system and the Arab public, and it is the face of the Organization’s efforts in the region. Over the decades, the Centre has succeeded in promoting awareness of the principles and values of the United Nations and supporting sustainable development priorities, as well as empowering youth and media professionals in the Arab region. We stress the need to provide the necessary financial and human support to the Centre so that it can continue to perform its vital tasks, especially in light of the challenges faced by other centres in the field due to the current financial crisis. Mr. Chair. It is impossible to talk about UN media without mentioning the tragic situation that media professionals in the Gaza Strip have experienced over the past three years due to the grave violations against them by the Israeli aggression. Regardless of the allegations to the contrary, the world has witnessed the death of dozens of journalists while performing their professional duty, in flagrant violation of international humanitarian law and the rules for the protection of journalists in conflict zones. Egypt, therefore, confirms that freedom of the press and media cannot be selective. Its defense must include all journalists without discrimination, especially those who pay with their lives to report the truth. Mr. Chair, Egypt stresses the importance of safeguarding the principle of multilingualism in the UN system and ensuring full equality among the six official languages to provide equal access to information for all peoples, including Arabic-speaking. We also call for reducing the digital divide between the Global North and the Global South, and strengthening national capacities in the field of media and digital communications, including artificial intelligence, so technology does not become a tool to widening inequality, but rather a means to empower everyone. In conclusion, the Arab Republic of Egypt affirms that UN Media is one of the pillars of multilateral action. and the means of consolidating a culture of peace, upholding the values of justice and equity, and promoting global awareness of our shared responsibility towards humanity. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of Egypt for his statement. Now we have heard the last speaker in the general debate for this meeting. The Committee will convene at 3:00 PM tomorrow, Wednesday, 4th of November, in this conference room to continue the general debate and to take action on the proposals under agenda item 51. The meeting is adjourned.